Former RAF serviceman fractures back in Cumbernauld car crash

For most people, cycling is a hobby. For Roger Smith, it was a way of life.

A lifelong athlete, triathlon coach and former Royal Air Force serviceman, Roger spent decades pushing himself physically. 

Training, racing and helping others achieve their sporting goals were all part of his identity.

But in August 2024, a split-second decision by a driver changed everything.

Roger was cycling through Cumbernauld when a car suddenly pulled out in front of him at a junction.

He said: “I had been looking forward to a summer of racing and adventure then all of a sudden, it was taken away from me.

“I knew the impact was coming. I was hard on the brakes trying to reduce it, but there was nowhere to go.

“I went over the handlebars, hit the car and landed on the road.”

The collision left Roger lying injured on the ground.

Thankfully, a nurse who had been travelling behind him stopped immediately to help and stayed by his side until emergency services arrived.

After being taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, scans revealed the full extent of his injuries.

Roger had fractured three vertebrae, three ribs and his shoulder blade.

He added: “The minute I heard it was my vertebrae that were fractured, I was scared.

“I didn’t know what that meant for my future. Would I recover? What would life look like afterwards?”

Roger’s injuries were so serious he was transferred to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where specialist spinal surgeons carried out emergency surgery. 

Metal rods and nine screws were inserted into his back to stabilise his spine.

Before surgery, Roger was unable to move and although the operation was successful, it marked the beginning of a long and challenging recovery.

He spent months undergoing rehabilitation and physiotherapy before facing a second operation in June 2025 to remove the metalwork from his spine.

The physical impact was significant, but the emotional consequences proved equally difficult.

Roger added: “I couldn’t lift my head from the pillow. I couldn’t sit up.

“I couldn’t do anything for myself. I had to be fed and cared for.

“For someone who has always been independent, that was incredibly difficult.

“People who know me would describe me as the super-fit guy. I felt like the accident almost took away part of my identity.”

The accident affected every aspect of Roger’s life, including his family.

His partner Julie suddenly found herself taking on responsibilities he could no longer manage.

Adding to the trauma, Roger and Julie were forced to cancel a long-awaited safari holiday to Kenya that was due to begin just days after the collision.

Once the initial shock subsided Roger considered his legal options. As a member of Triathlon Scotland, he was aware of Digby Brown’s partnership with the organisation and contacted the firm for advice.

It was Rachel Black, Associate in the firm’s Edinburgh office, who guided Roger through the claims process.

She secured rehabilitation support, recovered a range of financial losses including the cost of a cancelled holiday and bike repairs, and challenged an early offer from the insurer which failed to recognise Roger's injuries and ongoing difficulties.

When negotiations with the insurer stalled, Rachel took steps to raise court proceedings, maintaining pressure on the insurer and helping secure a settlement that properly reflected the physical, psychological and financial consequences of the crash.

Roger’s cycling injury claim ultimately settled for £60,000.

While no amount of compensation can restore what Roger lost, it has helped him move forward and focus on the future.

Roger concluded: “Two years out of my life are gone and I’ll never get them back.

“I’m not quite the same person I was before the accident. I can’t ride for as long as I used to. My back becomes sore and I’ve had to switch from road cycling to mountain biking because it’s more comfortable.

“But the support I received made a huge difference. At a time when everything felt uncertain, I knew I wasn’t facing it alone.

“Rachel was amazing. She kept me informed throughout and explained everything clearly.

“I never felt uncertain about what was happening or how Digby Brown were going to support me.

“She came to my home in the early days and immediately put both me and Julie at ease.

“It never felt intimidating or overly formal. I always felt like I was the focus and that the team genuinely cared.”